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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE OF TODAY’S EPISODE IS, “IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY”

John 16:33  These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

     Jesus said there would be days like this; there will days when nothing seems to go right.  Some days it seems like the whole world is coming down around your ears. There will be times that it seems like you are alone in the world. There are two ways to react to adversity. That would be with or without faith.

         In the face of adversity one without faith is prone to panic. This is because without Jesus one must rely on one’s own powers to overcome. This often leads to lies and deception in order to manipulate those involved. Bullying is another popular tactic.  Or they will offer some lavish reward for giving in. The big problem there is that a person often does not have the lavish reward or that once its given, you find out that reward is a white elephant.  

      The Devil promised Adam and Eve that their eyes would be opened. What Adam and Eve understood was that they had betrayed God and therefore could expect sorrow and shame. 

     You see in the face of the adversary himself, Adam and Eve reacted without faith. They trusted Satan’s tale that God did not have their best interest at heart when he denied them the Tree of Knowledge.  As a result, we live in a cursed and broken world where bad things happen.

Gen 3:14  And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: Gen 3:15  And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Gen 3:16  Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. Gen 3:17  And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Gen 3:18  Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; Gen 3:19  In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

     So, It will be that way until Jesus returns and makes all things new. We can expect floods, hurricanes, sickness and any other trouble that comes.  That’s just the way things are. I also think that we give too much credit to Satan, as though he could create a storm that brings a flood, that spreads disease and so on.  I know that some issues are a result of a spiritual battle.  I also know that Satan would like to take credit for having as much power and glory as we will give him.

     To react with faith is a little more work. Reacting with faith means that we believe Jesus will help us. When the storm comes, we seek shelter, (in the Rock of salvation.). When the flood waters rise we reach out for Jesus.  Faith is an action word. We must be dynamic in our reaction with faith. With faith we find the way to use what resources that have been given us by God. In fact, if we believe God we will expect resources to be provided. As he promised, no matter what the circumstances.

Psa 37:3  Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Psa 37:4  Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Psa 37:5  Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

Jesus leaves nothing to chance.  He is with us consistently.

Matt 28:18  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Matt 28:19  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Matt 28:20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

     With those kinds of promises it should be easy to react with faith. With faith we can rise above the floodwaters. You may not have that kind of faith that walks on the water but that doesn’t mean you couldn’t have. The same God that walked with Adam, went with David into battle and walked with Moses lives inside (us) the believer!

Acts 1:8  But ye shall receive power,   after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

With Faith we can avoid the snares of the enemy.

1Cor 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common toman: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

     Ultimately, reacting with faith is believing Gods promises and looking for the next step. Then actually taking that step while trusting God with the outcome. He is able to keep us, if we mess up.

Heb 2:18  For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

We need to have faith during the times of trial. In the face of adversity we can have confidence, because Jesus holds us in the  hollow of his hand.

John 10:27  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: John 10:28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. John 10:29  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. John 10:30  I and my Father are one.

What have we to fear? What would hinder our faith? Reacting to any situation with fear is contrary to our promises. We don’t rely on the things of this world to see us through. We don’t need to because we have Jesus. 

The next time we find ourselves facing adversity, we need to remember to look to Jesus. He will be there waiting to meet us in our faith.

Until Next Time,

Be Bold, Be Brave and Keep Your God Focus

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